Scottish Executive

Economy

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list for each year since 1945 for which figures are available (a) the percentage real annual growth in the Scottish Gross Domestic Product, (b) the actual monetary Gross Domestic Product in market prices and at factor cost, including an explanation of what these measures are and the reasons for any differences between the two, and (c) the equivalent figures for the UK continental shelf region.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Table 1 gives the annual constant price percentage growth in Scottish GDP (output measure) for each year since 1964, the earliest year for which information is available. Consistent information for the Continental Shelf over the same period is not available.

  Table 1: Constant price percentage change in Scottish GDP (output measure) 1964-2000

  


Year 
  

Percentage change 
  

Year 
  

Percentage change 
  



1964 
  

7.6% 
  

1983 
  

1.4% 
  



1965 
  

3.4% 
  

1984 
  

3.8% 
  



1966 
  

1.8% 
  

1985 
  

2.8% 
  



1967 
  

1.4% 
  

1986 
  

0.4% 
  



1968 
  

4.2% 
  

1987 
  

2.0% 
  



1969 
  

3.8% 
  

1988 
  

4.0% 
  



1970 
  

1.8% 
  

1989 
  

2.7% 
  



1971 
  

1.1% 
  

1990 
  

2.2% 
  



1972 
  

3.6% 
  

1991 
  

0.1% 
  



1973 
  

7.1% 
  

1992 
  

1.4% 
  



1974 
  

0.0% 
  

1993 
  

2.5% 
  



1975 
  

-1.5% 
  

1994 
  

1.8% 
  



1976 
  

1.8% 
  

1995 
  

3.5% 
  



1977 
  

1.7% 
  

1996 
  

2.6% 
  



1978 
  

2.4% 
  

1997 
  

2.6% 
  



1979 
  

1.0% 
  

1998 
  

1.7% 
  



1980 
  

-1.9% 
  

1999 
  

2.5% 
  



1981 
  

-1.4% 
  

2000 
  

1.5% 
  



1982 
  

1.5% 
  

 


 




  Source: Scottish Executive.

  The income-based measure of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost is defined as the sum of compensation of employees and gross operating surplus. GDP at market prices is defined as GDP at factor cost plus taxes less subsidies on production plus taxes less subsidies on products.

  A monetary estimate of Scottish GDP is only available at basic prices. Income-based GDP at basic prices is defined as GDP at factor cost plus taxes less subsidies on production. This information along with information on the Extra Region, which includes the Continental Shelf is available from the Office of National Statistics (www.ons.gov.uk) as part of the annual Regional Accounts.

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal staff in (a) the Crown Office and (b) the Procurator Fiscal Service ended their employment (i) within six months, (ii) between six and 12 months and (iii) between 12 and 18 months of them taking up post and what posts were affected by departures in these categories, in each year from 1997-98 to date.

Colin Boyd QC: The numbers of legal staff in (a) the Crown Office and (b) the Procurator Fiscal Service ended their employment (i) within six months, (ii) between six and 12 months and (iii) between 12 and 18 months of them taking up post and the posts affected by these departures, in each year from 1997-98 are shown in the table.

  Crown Office – Nil

  Procurator Fiscal Service

  


Year 
  

Within 6 months 
  

6 to 12 months 
  

12 to 18 months 
  



1997-98 
  

Nil 
  

1 Depute, Aberdeen 
  

Nil 
  



1998-99 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



1999-2000 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  

1 Depute, Glasgow 
  



2000-01 
  

1 Depute, Aberdeen 
  

1 Depute, Aberdeen 
  

1 Depute, Edinburgh 
  



2001 (to July) 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  

1 Depute, Glasgow

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13449 by Colin Boyd QC on 1 March 2001, whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of cases within each category listed which were marked as no proceedings due to a time bar in the courts, in each year from 1997-98 to 2000-01.

Colin Boyd QC: The time bar in question is not one which relates to the courts. It is, rather, the one set out in section 136 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, which prevents the commencement of summary proceedings once six months have passed from the date of the contravention. The figures represent cases which were not reported to Procurators Fiscal until it was already too late to meet that time limit. The figures are:

  


1997-98 
  

1,420 
  



1998-99 
  

1,278 
  



1999-2000 
  

1,533 
  



2000-01 
  

2,009 
  



  The recent year-on-year increase is disturbing and the Crown Office has recently reminded reporting agencies again of the need to report cases within time bar.

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets were set and what targets were achieved by the Supreme Courts of Scotland in each year from 1997-98 to 2000-01.

Mr Jim Wallace: The table which follows sets out the key performance targets set for the Scottish Court Service in relation to the Supreme Courts of Scotland in each year from 1997-98 to 2000-01 together with the respective percentage achievement rates.

  Cases which fail to be allocated within the relevant target period, even by one day, score 0% achievement, hence the outturn in 2000-01 when pressure on the courts resulted in delays running beyond the target periods. In addition, cases may be allocated to diets outwith these targets to accommodate the availability of counsel, agents or witnesses.

  Key Performance Targets

1997-98   1998-99   1999-2000   2000-01 Efficiency Percentage of Court of Session diets allocated within waiting periods set by the Lord President   Target   90   92   93   93 Outturn   94   93   84   30 Percentage of solemn and summary appeals on roll within waiting periods set by the Lord Justice General   Target   70   70   60   60 Outturn   70   59   45   50 Quality Percentage achievement of administrative standards set by the Lord President/Lord Justice General   Target   90   92   95   95 Outturn   94   97   91   90

  Tables A and B3 provide a more detailed breakdown of the specific targets set by the Lord President and Lord Justice General in relation to waiting periods and administrative standards in both criminal and civil proceedings. New administrative targets were adopted in 1998-99.

  Table A

  


Supreme Courts Waiting periods 
  



Civil 
  

Waiting Period (term weeks except*) 
  

% of diets allocated in the year within 
  waiting period 
  



Civil Business 
  

Target 
  

1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  



(a) Appeals against Interlocutory orders 
  (from date of lodging) 
  

4 
  

100% 
  

97% 
  

80% 
  

31% 
  



(b) All other appeals (from date sent to 
  roll)#


18 
  

93% 
  

11% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  



(c) Jury trials(from date issues approved) 
  

19 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

79% 
  

50% 
  



(d) Ordinary proofs (from date proof allowed) 
  

19 
  

89% 
  

81% 
  

84% 
  

38% 
  



Criminal 
  



Criminal Business - Appeals 
  

 


 


 


 


 




Leave to Appeal - Solemn and Summary 
  

 


 


 


 


 




Applications for leave to appeal: 
  

 


 


 


 


 




(i) from date of report received to allocation to single 
  judge 
  

1* 
  

71% 
  

92% 
  

55% 
  

64% 
  



(ii) from intimation of appeal against refusal to allocate 
  to 2/3 judges 
  

2* 
  

66% 
  

69% 
  

29% 
  

38% 
  



Appeals - Solemn 
  

 


 


 


 


 




Notes of Appeal: 
  

 


 


 


 


 




(from date when leave to appeal granted) 
  

 


 


 


 


 




(i) Sentence 
  

5* 
  

90% 
  

78% 
  

56% 
  

36% 
  



(ii) Conviction and Sentence 
  

5 
  

16% 
  

0% 
  

2% 
  

0% 
  



Appeals – Summary 
  

 


 


 


 


 




Notes of Appeal against Sentence: 
  

 


 


 


 


 




(from date when leave to appeal granted) 
  

 


 


 


 


 




(i) Accused in custody 
  

4* 
  

91% 
  

76% 
  

56% 
  

38% 
  



(i)Other 
  

6* 
  

90% 
  

88% 
  

70% 
  

67% 
  



Stated Cases: 
  

 


 


 


 


 




(from date when leave to appeal granted) 
  

 


 


 


 


 




(i) Accused in custody 
  

4 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  

100% 
  



(i)Other 
  

6 
  

11% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  

0% 
  



Bills of Suspension (from date lodged) 
  

4 
  

100% 
  

31% 
  

4% 
  

8% 
  



  Target (a) above came into operation with effect from 1 October 1997 and was set at two weeks for the duration of 1997-98.

  #This target has been omitted from agency annual achievement rate calculations since 1998-99.

  Table B

  


Supreme Courts Administrative Targets 
  



Description 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  



To process summonses, petitions and appeals from inferior 
  courts within one working day of their acceptance. 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



To notify solicitors of returned citations on the date 
  of their receipt. 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



To notify solicitors of custody reports on the date of 
  their receipt. 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



To issue all extracted decrees of divorce on the first 
  working day it would be competent to do so and to issue 
  all other extracted decrees within five working days of 
  the request. 
  

98 
  

100 
  

100 
  



To secure accurate and timeous publication of the Rolls 
  of Court and to deliver to practitioners in Edinburgh, the 
  weekly and daily Rolls of Court on the day of publication. 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



To intimate disposal of appeals under solemn criminal procedure 
  within one working day of determination by the court. 
  

97 
  

88 
  

76 
  



To intimate disposal of appeals under summary criminal 
  procedure within five working days of determination by the 
  court. 
  

73 
  

75 
  

65 
  



To prepare applications for leave to appeal and appeals 
  against refusal of leave within one working day from the 
  date of receipt of summary appeal papers, or the Judge’s 
  report in solemn appeals. 
  

99 
  

65 
  

71 
  



To intimate the grant or refusal of leave to appeal within 
  two working days of receipt of the papers. 
  

91 
  

79 
  

53 
  



To complete the audit of at least 95% of all Curatory Accounts 
  within three months of lodgement. 
  

100 
  

100 
  

97 
  



To complete the audit of at least 75% of all Judicial Factory 
  Accounts within two months of lodgement. 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



To issue to solicitors in the Court of Session monthly 
  accounts within seven days of the end of each period. 
  

97 
  

69 
  

99 
  



To process all invoices and claims within 48 hours of receipt. 
  

100 
  

100 
  

100 
  



To reply to all correspondence, except that which requires 
  extensive investigation, within three working days of receipt. 
  

100 
  

96 
  

95

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many custodial sentences were imposed by each sheriff court in each year from 1997-98 to 2000-01.

Mr Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the table. Figures for 2000 are not yet available.

  Number of proceedings in Scottish sheriff courts resulting in a custodial sentence

  


 


Calendar year 
  



Sheriff court 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  



All courts 
  

13,276 
  

13,274 
  

13,389 
  



Aberdeen 
  

924 
  

862 
  

843 
  



Airdrie 
  

309 
  

310 
  

383 
  



Alloa 
  

96 
  

119 
  

114 
  



Arbroath 
  

142 
  

189 
  

141 
  



Ayr 
  

406 
  

460 
  

516 
  



Banff 
  

38 
  

31 
  

32 
  



Campbeltown 
  

22 
  

33 
  

30 
  



Cupar 
  

100 
  

74 
  

52 
  



Dingwall 
  

57 
  

67 
  

53 
  



Dornoch 
  

6 
  

15 
  

8 
  



Dumbarton 
  

398 
  

369 
  

374 
  



Dumfries 
  

215 
  

207 
  

210 
  



Dundee 
  

665 
  

745 
  

728 
  



Dunfermline 
  

303 
  

257 
  

232 
  



Dunoon 
  

71 
  

48 
  

34 
  



Duns 
  

14 
  

20 
  

10 
  



Edinburgh 
  

1,408 
  

1,393 
  

1,436 
  



Elgin 
  

141 
  

89 
  

117 
  



Falkirk 
  

317 
  

392 
  

357 
  



Forfar 
  

82 
  

65 
  

59 
  



Fort William 
  

68 
  

53 
  

52 
  



Glasgow 
  

2,450 
  

2,406 
  

2,689 
  



Greenock 
  

574 
  

645 
  

630 
  



Haddington 
  

95 
  

110 
  

73 
  



Hamilton 
  

586 
  

504 
  

486 
  



Inverness 
  

243 
  

236 
  

217 
  



Jedburgh 
  

76 
  

68 
  

66 
  



Kilmarnock 
  

714 
  

945 
  

1,006 
  



Kirkcaldy 
  

570 
  

553 
  

528 
  



Kirkcudbright 
  

44 
  

33 
  

38 
  



Kirkwall 
  

19 
  

15 
  

26 
  



Lanark 
  

116 
  

92 
  

103 
  



Lerwick 
  

34 
  

28 
  

45 
  



Linlithgow 
  

242 
  

197 
  

235 
  



Lochmaddy 
  

5 
  

10 
  

9 
  



Oban 
  

45 
  

44 
  

45 
  



Paisley 
  

696 
  

689 
  

633 
  



Peebles 
  

11 
  

19 
  

32 
  



Perth 
  

280 
  

230 
  

202 
  



Peterhead 
  

132 
  

138 
  

96 
  



Portree 
  

6 
  

4 
  

2 
  



Rothesay 
  

17 
  

18 
  

4 
  



Selkirk 
  

42 
  

51 
  

43 
  



Stirling 
  

202 
  

136 
  

145 
  



Stonehaven 
  

36 
  

35 
  

30 
  



Stornoway 
  

51 
  

38 
  

37 
  



Stranraer 
  

138 
  

150 
  

145 
  



Tain 
  

32 
  

35 
  

18 
  



Wick 
  

38 
  

47 
  

25

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure, when considering the information gathered in the audit of museums, that any past donation or receipt of items from a local collection into the collection of a national museum is noted when considering the breadth and significance of existing local collections.

Allan Wilson: The national audit, which has been developed by the Scottish Museums Council after consultation with the museum sector in Scotland, will establish the current holdings of each museum but not from whom or where objects have been acquired.

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure, in considering the information gathered in the audit of museums, that it takes into account the use to which museum items are put as well as how they are cared for.

Allan Wilson: Some 25% of the questions in the audit will provide information about the use to which objects are put, as well as how they are cared for.

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what benchmarks it will use to assess the progress that each individual museum has made in providing imaginative and effective services given that the audit of museums does not include provision for museums the opportunity to demonstrate changes and developments in services over any specified time period.

Allan Wilson: The audit will provide information which reflects the position as at 1 May 2001. It will provide information on the strengths and potential areas of development in individual museums.

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the audit of museums does not give recipients the opportunity to comment on and assess the structures presently in place to support and assist museums in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The purpose of the audit is to establish what collections there are, how they are cared for and what use is made of them. It is not an appropriate vehicle for an examination of structures. We will in due course pursue our commitments in the National Cultural Strategy to consider a national framework for museums and galleries.

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that accompanying documentation prepared by museums to overcome perceived gaps in the audit of museums will be properly noted and assessed when it responds to the audit and brings forward a policy for museums.

Allan Wilson: Yes.

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that information on the current financial position of each museum and its fundraising activities in recent years will be included in its consideration of the audit of museums.

Allan Wilson: The national audit seeks financial information relating to the year 2000-01, with questions on the total budget of the museum and a breakdown of sources of income, including fundraising.

Museums

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the full results of the audit of museums, along with any accompanying documentation volunteered by museums, will be published.

Allan Wilson: The results of the audit will be published in print and on the Scottish Museums Council’s website with the exception of information relating to museums’ security measures. The published information will be accompanied by appropriate commentary to assist the interpretation of the results and to put them in context.

Personal Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics are available on personal savings in Scotland and for which years.

Angus MacKay: There are a number of sources of statistics on personal savings. Amongst these, are the DSS’ Family Resources Survey (FRS), the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) and the Inland Revenue’s Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI). FRS data are available from 1994-95 to 1999-2000; SHS data are available from 1999 to 2000, and SPI data are available from 1994-95 to 1998-99.

Road Accidents

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sums were charged to or recovered from motorists or their insurers by health boards relating to road traffic accidents, broken down by health board on an annual basis since 1997.

Susan Deacon: Charges for NHS treatment following a road traffic accident are payable by insurers, and only where the casualty has made a successful claim for personal compensation following the accident in question. The charge is remitted to the Trust, or directly managed unit (DMU), that provided the treatment. Information on charge recoveries was not collected centrally prior to April 1999, when new recovery arrangements came into effect. Details of the charges recovered in the last two financial years are provided in the table.

  Table to show recovered NHS charges for treatment following road traffic accidents

  


Trust/DMU 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  


 

£ 
  

£ 
  



Argyll & Clyde Acute Hospitals 
  

158,720 
  

407,763 
  



Lomond & Argyll Primary Care 
  

11,813 
  

19,253 
  



Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Primary Care 
  
 

3,000 
  



Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals 
  

121,581 
  

342,466 
  



Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care 
  

1,770 
  

7,404 
  



Borders General Hospitals 
  

35,041 
  

76,806 
  



Borders Primary Care 
  

4,623 
  

3,068 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Acute Maternity 
  

39,458 
  

127,979 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Primary Care 
  

10,839 
  

10,900 
  



Fife Acute Hospitals 
  

93,225 
  

222,463 
  



Fife Primary Care 
  

3,127 
  

6,667 
  



Forth Valley Acute Hospitals 
  

64,045 
  

219,952 
  



Forth Valley Primary Care 
  
 
 



Grampian Primary Care 
  

8,105 
  

22,892 
  



Grampian University Hospitals 
  

154,717 
  

434,236 
  



Greater Glasgow Primary Care 
  
 

1,357 
  



North Glasgow University Hospitals 
  

208,104 
  

435,139 
  



South Glasgow University Hospitals 
  

174,400 
  

365,412 
  



Yorkhill 
  

18,388 
  

15,167 
  



Highland Acute Hospitals 
  

71,697 
  

233,892 
  



Highland Primary Care 
  

3,016 
  

10,310 
  



Lanarkshire Acute 
  

231,645 
  

608,403 
  



Lanarkshire Primary Care 
  

2,124 
  

3,127 
  



Lothian Primary Care 
  

5,251 
  

19,729 
  



Lothian University Hospitals 
  

151,369 
  

385,749 
  



West Lothian Healthcare 
  

79,711 
  

147,566 
  



Orkney Health Board 
  

20,000 
  

7,744 
  



Shetland Health Board S.H.C.S.U 
  

2,124 
  

5,221 
  



Tayside Primary Care 
  

7,972 
  

36,638 
  



Tayside University Hospitals 
  

151,535 
  

375,177 
  



Western Isles Health Board DMU 
  

2,662 
  

39,558 
  



Total 
  

£1,837,062 
  

£4,595,038